Small Business Marketing Blog » Employee Recognitionhttp://blog.myron.com
Marketing Tips & Industry Trends powered by Myron Promotional Products & GiftsTue, 31 Mar 2015 17:17:10 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6Focus on reducing stress, injuries during National Nurses Weekhttp://blog.myron.com/2015/03/25/focus-on-reducing-stress-injuries-during-national-nurses-week
http://blog.myron.com/2015/03/25/focus-on-reducing-stress-injuries-during-national-nurses-week#commentsWed, 25 Mar 2015 12:04:44 +0000braftonhttp://blog.myron.com/2015/03/25/focus-on-reducing-stress-injuries-during-national-nurses-weekHealth care reform can be a bit of a buzzphrase with so many political underpinnings surrounding the term, but when you get down to the nitty-gritty of it and meet the doctors and nurses who make it all happen, you might be surprised at what you find out. While legislators debate over multi-billion-dollar funding fixes, it's the frontline clinicians who are making the difference every single day.

That's why it's so important for any organization that employs nursing professionals to show their appreciation for these workers during National Nurses Week. From May 6 to 12, the nation will turn its eyes to the men and women who hold the entire healthcare system together, and you should be stocked with the custom promotional products and in-depth knowledge on the struggles nurses face to get the most out of National Nurses Week.

It's easy to lose your spark when you work in a hospital every day.

Burnout is real
The public may like to focus on the image of the emergency room doctor who struggles to save each and every life he or she comes into contact with, but it's actually nursing professionals who have more one-on-one contact with patients. While this means a large variety of medical processes are in their capable hands, so much interaction with patients in difficult spots in their lives can cause significant emotional stress, and Shari Schwanzl, vice president of operations and nursing for Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, told National Nurses United that burnout in nurses can resemble another well-known condition.

Any organization's first step toward reducing burnout among nurses should include ongoing education and outreach programs that provide employees the opportunity to talk about sensitive issues. Providers can also take advantage of National Nurses Week to promote health and wellness through promotional products that give nurses a chance to vent, like Myron's Funny Dr. Custom Stress Reliever. You could also give your employees the gift of convenience with Aluminum Portable Universal Chargers that allow your workers to charge their personal devices on the go after a long day of use at work.

"Nursing assistants sustained 208.4 lost work days for every 10,000 employees."

Nurse the nurses
When patients are admitted to the hospital, they expect nursing professionals to take care of them and not the other way around. However, as data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows, nursing professionals make up two of the most often-injured occupations in the U.S. According to 2013 figures, nursing assistants sustained 208.4 lost work days for every 10,000 employees. This means that normal nursing duties of manually manipulating patients poses more harm to the body than the work of police officers, correctional jailors and construction workers.

What's more, hospitals and other health care providers may not be taking all the steps they could be to help nurses avoid these preventable injuries in the future. Advanced lifting equipment can help reduce the physical burden on nursing professionals, but this might require a significant investment to achieve. That's why many nurses feel like they are not heard by upper management, and why National Nurses Week presents such a valuable opportunity for conversation and progress.

"Every day you call and say, 'We don't have anybody to help us,'" Ashley Moore, R.N., an injured nursing professional at Kaiser Hospital in Walnut Creek, California, told NPR. "And again it would be the same thing every single day, being jerked around. And by the end of the day, nobody ever came to help us."

If providers can prove to their nursing employees that they're dedicated to looking after them not only during National Nurses Week, but for the foreseeable future, they may see improved care outcomes and patient satisfaction as rewards for their responsible business practices.

]]>http://blog.myron.com/2015/03/25/focus-on-reducing-stress-injuries-during-national-nurses-week/feed03 ways to show some love during National Employee Appreciation Dayhttp://blog.myron.com/2015/03/04/3-ways-to-show-some-love-during-national-employee-appreciation-day
http://blog.myron.com/2015/03/04/3-ways-to-show-some-love-during-national-employee-appreciation-day#commentsWed, 04 Mar 2015 14:42:46 +0000braftonhttp://blog.myron.com/2015/03/04/3-ways-to-show-some-love-during-national-employee-appreciation-dayAs a small-business owner, you probably have your own way of managing your specific group of employees. Some may respond to strict guidelines, while others need a bit of a light touch to get the best out of them. Whatever your management style, it's unlikely that acting the overbearing boss all the time will lead you to much success.

Instead, why not take a second on March 6 to celebrate National Employee Appreciation Day and show your employees that they're worth more to you than dollar signs. In fact, small-business owners who make sure their workers are satisfied with their work experience may even benefit from a boost in productivity. If you need help making this National Employee Appreciation Day one your company will remember, check out these three tips for recognizing and rewarding good work.

Not every employee responds to recognition in the same way.

1. Save the backhanded compliments
Small-business owners are always looking for ways to make their offices more efficient, and this means you probably have a thing or two that each of your employees can improve on. While it can be tempting to wrap these criticisms in the guise of constructive feedback, Inc. magazine explained that National Employee Appreciation Day should focus exclusively on the positive.

When you start adding critiques onto the end of your compliments, you run the risk of having your employees focus only on the negative aspect of your comment. Instead of undercutting your positivity, only include the good in your comments or feedback to employees. This will keep them from wondering if you're really recognizing their accomplishments or if you're just checking a box on the employee appreciation to-do list.

2. Tie rewards to performance
One of the key aspects of any successful National Employee Appreciation Day is authenticity. If your workers think you're just paying them lip service, you might actually upset them instead. Fortunately, Manufacturing.net explained that an easy way to avoid this common pitfall is to tie rewards to exceptional performances among your team.

For example, you could engrave an Epic Crystal Clock from Myron with an employee's name and accomplishment so he or she can show off the trophy at work or at home. Rewarding employees for exemplary performance not only makes the recipients happy, but it may even push others to work more efficiently, too.

3. Embrace the momentum
If you're serious about National Employee Appreciation Day and think a few small gestures here or there can help boost employee engagement and productivity, then why limit yourself to one day throughout the entire year?

In fact, small businesses that embrace a culture of employee appreciation turn this one-day event into a philosophy. You can even measure your level of recognition by trying to compliment each employee a certain number of times every month.

Who knows – with kind words and promotional products to woo your employees, you may just turn your small business into a well-oiled machine after all.

]]>http://blog.myron.com/2015/03/04/3-ways-to-show-some-love-during-national-employee-appreciation-day/feed0Show your employees some love this Valentine’s Dayhttp://blog.myron.com/2015/02/03/show-your-employees-some-love-this-valentines-day
http://blog.myron.com/2015/02/03/show-your-employees-some-love-this-valentines-day#commentsTue, 03 Feb 2015 15:28:17 +0000braftonhttp://blog.myron.com/2015/02/03/show-your-employees-some-love-this-valentines-dayIt's no secret that your customers are the lifeblood of your successful small business, but they're just one side of the coin. On the other are all the employees and workers you hire to make everything fit together behind the scenes. Some may break their backs to respond to a new client to earn you an extra dollar, so what can you do to show that you appreciate everything they've done for your and your small business?

Valentine's Day might traditionally be a day for couples, but you can take this opportunity as a small-business owner to express your gratitude for the long hours and hard work that your employees put in day in and day out. Valentine's Day can get a little sticky if you're not good at handling this sometimes-emotional holiday, so you'll want to practice a little caution if you plan on holding an employee appreciation event Feb. 14. Don't worry, though – if you follow a few simple steps, you can make sure all of your employees leave work this Valentine's Day with a smile on their faces and in their hearts.

The foundation of any successful company is satisfied employees.

Love the work
Your employees might have their own plans to swap Valentine's Day presents with their personal sweethearts, but that kind of gift-giving can make for awkward situations in the office. Instead, EHS Today recommended giving out valentines based on exemplary work from your employees. Have a customer service representative who handled a difficult client? Mention it in a card. One of your salespeople closed on a big contract? Buy him or her a box of chocolates with a note inside that shows how "sweet" you thought their performance was.

If cards and chocolate seem a little too safe for your brand and company culture, think about promotional products that recognize employees' accomplishments without all the sentimental fanfare of Valentine's Day. Gifts like Myron's Vidal Triple Function Digital Pen can be smart and chic additions to any office or home that your workers should be proud to show off.

"Taking some time out of your day to spread some good will among your employees could pay big dividends down the road."

Rush of emotion
Though the office isn't the place for romance or overt displays of affection, it still might not hurt to get into the spirit of Valentine's Day a little bit. If you want to turn this from a general office holiday into one your employees will remember forever, it might take a little creativity.

In a novel new marketing campaign that you may have seen during the Super Bowl, McDonald's will be accepting "expressions of affection" – simple gestures like calling your mother or hugging your sibling – as payment for their regular line of products. While this might seem a little gimmicky for a group of office workers, taking some time out of your day to spread some good will among your employees could pay big dividends down the road.

Incentivize the gestures of camaraderie by offering rewards for compliments or other displays of Valentine's Day good will. A brisk handshake could be worth a 15-minute break, while a full hug might be enough for a lunch on the company. Your employees might not be best friends, but little things like this help bring them closer together.

Be sincere
Regardless of how you choose to show your employees that you care about them, it's critical that you don't try and overplay your hand. Like your customers, your workers probably also have a sharp ear for when they're receiving real praise and when they're being patronized. If you think you might be overdoing it on the appreciation front, take a step back and wonder what it looks like from your employees' perspective – are you showing them that you care in a way that meshes with their individual styles? If not, you might be doing more harm than good.

]]>http://blog.myron.com/2015/02/03/show-your-employees-some-love-this-valentines-day/feed0How to manage problematic employeeshttp://blog.myron.com/2015/01/20/how-to-manage-problematic-employees
http://blog.myron.com/2015/01/20/how-to-manage-problematic-employees#commentsTue, 20 Jan 2015 11:43:49 +0000braftonhttp://blog.myron.com/2015/01/20/how-to-manage-problematic-employeesAs a small-business owner, you're probably well aware of how much you need to stretch every penny. When resources are tight, it's up to you to find new revenue for that next project or room in the budget for more promotional products. Depending on your team, your employees might be your most valuable resource, but what happens when you can't get them to work to the best of their abilities?

Problematic employees can cause large corporations to stumble over otherwise sound business plans, and the effect is magnified when you have fewer people in a smaller office. If you see any concerning tendencies among your employees that might affect their productivity, it might be time to step in and do what you can to course correct.

What happens when your employees start taking their frustrations out on the office?

Obviously, this can throw a massive speedbump into your small business, which is why Judith Orloff, M.D., assistant clinical professor of psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles, told Inc. that you need to be very clear with this type of employee.

"The only way is to very clearly say what you need from them and when. 'It's very important that you show up on time for our meetings,' for example,'" Orloff said.

However, Orloff also explained that the passive-aggressive worker also values moving up within the company, so small-business owners also need to find low-impact ways of motivating them. Promotional products like Myron's Status Crystal Clock are unobtrusive enough to be displayed on a desk, but you can make a big show of awarding them to workers who deserve the praise.

"Know-it-all employees aren't limited to one specific age group."

The know-it-all employee
While the passive-aggressive worker might disrupt deadlines and cause delays for deliverables, they might not harm the inviting office culture most small businesses enjoy. However, having a know-it-all on your staff can seriously damage the sense of camaraderie between all of your employees.

International labor research site Bayt.com explained that about 35 percent of employees fall into this category. These workers are often so sure of themselves and their work that they are too stubborn to take criticism, and this can cause friction between different members of your team.

Know-it-all employees aren't limited to one specific age group, either. Baby boomers who've been in the industry for decades might have their own preconceptions about how to do their jobs, while millennials might feel that they have all the answers to working in a digital economy.

Whatever the reason, Bayt.com recommended intervening when know-it-alls start to create friction at the office. However, publicly shaming these workers is only likely to cause them to resent you for embarrassing them in front of their colleagues. Instead, book a meeting room or call him or her into your office so you can have a private discussion about his or her work performance.

Be clear
While problematic employees come in many forms, your response to them as a small-business owner should be relatively uniform. ZipRecruiter urged managers to be explicitly clear with any and all instructions to new workers or those who seem to be taking liberties with their responsibilities with work. If you let these employees know what you expect from them and when they should have it done, odds are you'll have a much better functioning office than you're used to.

]]>http://blog.myron.com/2015/01/20/how-to-manage-problematic-employees/feed03 holiday celebrations around the Myron worldhttp://blog.myron.com/2014/12/30/3-holiday-celebrations-around-the-myron-world
http://blog.myron.com/2014/12/30/3-holiday-celebrations-around-the-myron-world#commentsTue, 30 Dec 2014 10:56:34 +0000braftonhttp://blog.myron.com/2014/12/30/3-holiday-celebrations-around-the-myron-worldThe end of the year can be a stressful time for many small-business owners. Not only do you have to focus on your customers and sales during the holiday shopping rush, but you also need to make sure you have a clear picture of how your next year will play out. Amid all this, it can feel like throwing your employees a holiday party is less of a priority.

But as celebrations from three international Myron offices show, you can throw a fun and festive celebration that doesn't break the bank and still shows your employees that you really are thankful for all the hard work they do. Get into the spirit of the season and tell your employees through a kicking holiday bash that you're ready to work together far into the future. Don't just stick with the tired-and-tested ways of throwing a seasonal soiree, though – take some tips from these three Myron office parties from across the globe.

Myron's founders made an appearance at headquarters.

1. Myron Corp. Headquarters – Maywood, NJ
What better place to kick off the holiday celebrations than Myron's worldwide headquarters located just outside New York City? These employees are some of the best number-crunchers and salespeople in the country, and December 16 marked the office's official holiday party where they'd get their due congratulations.

You might think that office parties are only fun if you get out of your employees' way, but Myron headquarters decided to turn the event into a series of community games. There was the Holiday Trivia Challenge where teams of workers had to coordinate to correctly answer as many questions as they could from a list of 25. There was also a slow-motion game of musical chairs, where employees were given an object to pass around until holiday music stopped playing – the last person standing was declared the winner.

Of course, what's the point of games at your holiday party if you don't have anything to give out as rewards? The Maywood headquarters gave winners Myron products from the Mr. Christmas line, like the Mr. Christmas Musical Carousel Horse in Blue.

And to top the whole night off, Myron founders Mike "Myron" and Elaine Adler personally thanked each employee for their work over the past year.

There was no Silent Night at Myron's Germany branch.

2. HCE Germany - Saarbrücken, Germany
There's more than one way to skin a cat, so if you've thrown the same holiday party year after year, your employees might be in the mood for a more exciting night out. That's exactly what Myron's manufacturing affiliate in Germany decided to do, and judging from the pictures, it was a good choice.

In addition to a live DJ and band, employees also enjoyed a festively themed buffet and cocktail bar. In between dancing and mingling with coworkers, employees were also presented with a high-quality wristwatch customized with the company logo. As a personalized touch, Dirk Hess, managing director of ADLER Vertriebs GmbH & Co., penned a thank-you letter that was inserted into each box.

The Honduras office had a night of giveaways and dancing.

3. HCE Honduras – El Progreso, Honduras
Who says you have to pick between a game-filled night and a dance-heavy outing for your holiday party? Employees at HCE Honduras had the great idea to combine low-key and high-octane get-togethers for a fun and festive celebration.

In addition to a holiday buffet and dancing to live DJs, employees were also entered into a raffle for two high-definition LED television sets, and the top-performing employees in the office were recognized and given awards for their achievements over the past year.

There are dozens of ways you can show your employees you're grateful for their work this year – just make sure you've got the food, the music and the promotional giveaways to make any night one to remember.

]]>http://blog.myron.com/2014/12/30/3-holiday-celebrations-around-the-myron-world/feed0Improve employee retention with giveaways and connectionshttp://blog.myron.com/2014/12/01/improve-employee-retention-with-giveaways-and-connections
http://blog.myron.com/2014/12/01/improve-employee-retention-with-giveaways-and-connections#commentsMon, 01 Dec 2014 16:40:30 +0000braftonhttp://blog.myron.com/2014/12/01/improve-employee-retention-with-giveaways-and-connectionsAs a small business owner, you know how hard it is to find hard-working employees. Whether it's a combination of lack of skills or incompatible personalities that would clash with others around the office, the job search process is difficult from the business side of things. You might partner with a recruiter to find the best young talent in the area, but these services can be expensive and sometimes only leave you with a revolving door of temp workers who aren't really invested in your business' success.

Instead of trying to replace the employees that leave, have you considered retaining the top talent you already have? While employee retention is a problem that not even Fortune 500 companies have been able to completely address, you shouldn't let this scare you away from what could be the key to a cohesive an unified team of employees.

How many employees are leaving?
Employee retention is a serious subject on its own, but when your best workers start to jump ship and join your competitors, you have a big problem on your hands. But to stem the flow of talent away from your business, you first need to know how employees are saying goodbye to their current jobs.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the number of employees who have voluntarily quit their jobs is at its highest mark since the start of the 2008 recession. Private sector workers quit at a rate of 2 percent as of April 2014 – a significant increase over the 1.4 percent it was at in 2008.

"The quit rate is a useful measure of how much confidence workers feel and how many opportunities they have to switch to a more attractive job," Steven Davis, Ph.D., professor of labor economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, told the Journal Sentinel. "The quit rate is one of many indicators that point to a partial recovery."

You can be sure that your competitors will jump at the chance to poach top talent right from under your nose, and a recovering economy only makes it an easier decision for your employees.

Sweeten the pot
If employees are considering leaving your company to join another, it's because there's something more attractive about the grass on the other side than where you are. While you might not have a great deal of leeway to give raises and increase salaries, there are still other ways you can show that you appreciate your employees and you want them to stick around.

The Wall Street Journal explained that small contests and incentives can help build camaraderie between employees that might be harder to walk away from when there's another offer on the table. Put a personalized product up for grabs for the salesperson with the highest numbers. Myron's 12 Oz. The Spooner Custom Oval Mug can be inscribed with the winner's name and what the contest was for. This is an inexpensive way to show your employees that you don't just view them as robots.

However, WhenIWork.com also explained that employees decide to quit for reasons other than a lack of cool promotional products. Sometimes, a worker may not get along with a manager, or you didn't interact with him or her enough to connect on a personal level, which can leave some employees feeling disconnected from the company at large. If you spend a lot of time in your office without walking the office floor, it might be time to get back out there. The benefit of owning a small business if that you can have at least one conversation with each employee every week.

However, such focused managers can leave their employees to fend for their own happiness at work. It's no longer enough to sign paychecks and expect your top talent to keep coming back to the office with the same passion every single day. Think of employee happiness as an investment into increased production – the more your workers feel like they're wanted and noticed by higher ups, the harder they're likely to work.

Happiness means productivity
It's easy to say that satisfied employees can more easily focus on the tasks ahead of them, but like any small business owner worth his or her salt, you might be reluctant to make major changes without hard data in support.

For fiscally minded managers, that should be reason enough to do everything you can to keep your workers content. Unsatisfied employees can be difficult to motivate, especially if they don't have good relationships with upper management. If you've been looking for a way to boost revenue without a significant financial investment, this could be the path back to the black.

Show them you care
Now you know it literally pays to make sure your employees feel good about coming to work, but how can you help them avoid frustrations with their jobs? Focus on body, mind and spirit, Inc. Magazine recommended.

Keeping your employees physically fit is one way to boost their happiness, and you can promote healthy lifestyles with Myron's 30 Oz. Cool Gear® Pure Bottle with Filter - the perfect way to combine your brand with a fit image. Encourage your employees to bring their personalized water bottles into work to save on office supplies, too!

Inc Magazine also urged business owners to collect suggestions from employees on what to change around the office. This will make them feel like they have a say in the things that affect them daily. It can be a risky decision to read these comments out loud, as some may be too unnecessarily negative and not productive. However, if an employee's idea is particularly clever, be sure to single him or her out in front of the rest of the company. Along with making that team member happy, you've also set an example for his or her colleagues to strive for.

Fostering a healthy spirit might prove slightly more difficult, but the source noted that extra vacation or sick days can show employees that you value their well-beings as people outside of the workplace. Don't feel like this is an obligation though – awarding more personal days on a case-by-case basis might be the way to go if you don't have much wiggle room.

No matter what you do to show employees that they're valued members of your business team, it really is the effort that counts. Go beyond traditional anniversary gifts and hand out personalized products that acknowledge your employees for the work they've done. Odds are they'll repay you with more productivity and higher profits, which can't help but make everyone at the company happy as well.

]]>http://blog.myron.com/2014/12/01/why-you-need-to-keep-your-employees-happy/feed05 office party fouls to avoid this holiday seasonhttp://blog.myron.com/2014/12/01/5-office-party-fouls-to-avoid-this-holiday-season
http://blog.myron.com/2014/12/01/5-office-party-fouls-to-avoid-this-holiday-season#commentsMon, 01 Dec 2014 11:56:48 +0000braftonhttp://blog.myron.com/2014/12/01/5-office-party-fouls-to-avoid-this-holiday-seasonAs the annual office holiday party creeps closer, business owners need to find ways to make their employees feel appreciated. Giving away personalized products and other knickknacks can be a great way to boost morale during end-of-the-year bashes, but you also have to be wary about certain party choices that could put a damper on the night's fun.

If you're worried that your holiday party might be verging on the side of boring and bland, check out these five party fouls you'll want to avoid for a soiree that will recharge your employees' batteries for the upcoming year.

1. Not enough food
This can seem like a straightforward issue, but a lack of food at a holiday office party – especially one where alcohol is present – can be the start of a bad series of events. With nothing to eat, employees are liable to drink more, and with less food in their stomachs to absorb all the alcohol, the potential for injury or inappropriate actions is much higher. Partner with a catering company or local restaurant to provide plenty of finger foods and substantial meals, or create a detailed list of which employees are supposed to bring what.

2. Departmental cliques
If your small business is small in name only, the annual holiday party is a great opportunity for employees from different departments to get to know one another better. However, the Puget Sound Business Journal explained that most people will just hang around with the colleagues they normally interact with at work. It's your job as the owner and host to get people to connect with others they don't normally talk to around the office – this will foster a stronger sense of commonality within your business.

3. Outrageous behavior
Glassdoor explained that some employees tend to think of holiday parties as chances to let loose and forget their inhibitions. While this is all well and good and can even lead to significant bonding between team members, Glassdoor related the story of Peggy Sanchez, an office worker who was showing off on a Segway motor vehicle that happened to be at her office's holiday party. A combination of too much to drink and no one to stop her lead to a crash that damaged the Segway to the tune of $2,000.

"An office holiday party should be considered as an office gathering, with the same rules of behavior that you would have in the office," career coach Kera Greene, M.Ed., told Glassdoor. "It is impossible to change a negative impression once someone forms it."

4. Lame gifts
No employee walks into a holiday party expecting to receive a new car or flat-screen TV from the company as an end-of-the-year gift, but that doesn't mean you're off the hook to deliver some killer presents. Show your employees you care about them and their work with personalized products like Myron's Custom Exercise Mat or Personalized Roll-Up Picnic Blanket. Emblazon these with each employee's name or initials for a truly memorable gift.

5. The next day
If you've done everything right, your holiday party will be a massive success. However, Alive Network explained that the day after might be even more important. After a night of drinking and dancing, your employees will likely be a little rough around the edges when they show up for work. Consider offering a nutritious breakfast to help your employees shake out the cobwebs or hire a local coffeeshop to provide some much-needed caffeine in the morning. Odds are that local businesses will be happy to get the exposure and you might even get a cross-promotional partner out of the deal.

]]>http://blog.myron.com/2014/12/01/5-office-party-fouls-to-avoid-this-holiday-season/feed0How to throw the perfect end-of-the-year holiday partyhttp://blog.myron.com/2014/11/21/how-to-throw-the-perfect-end-of-the-year-holiday-party
http://blog.myron.com/2014/11/21/how-to-throw-the-perfect-end-of-the-year-holiday-party#commentsFri, 21 Nov 2014 08:56:50 +0000braftonhttp://blog.myron.com/2014/11/21/how-to-throw-the-perfect-end-of-the-year-holiday-partyYour employees work as hard as they can for you all year long, so when the end of the year rolls around, it's important that you show them you appreciate their efforts. This is why many companies throw end-of-the-year parties to give their employees a chance to blow off some steam and bond with each other like no other time in the office.

However it can be easy to make a mistake and throw a party that feels token and without real appreciation. Make sure you not only choose the right venue for your soiree, but plan to give your employees gifts that make them feel like their work has been noticed and worthwhile. A good end-of-the-year party can draw your employees together and recharge their batteries so they come back next year ready to get to work.

In office or off site?
One of the first questions you should answer for your holiday party is where it'll actually take place. Depending on the culture of your company, you might need to look at some different options.

If your employees are mostly young and like to go out when they're not at work, a holiday party that takes place at the office may not be the most exciting event. If this sounds like your kind of company, you should look into renting out a private space at at local hotel, bar or other social space.

This doesn't mean that parties that take place in the office have to be lame. Whether it's a surprise or something that everyone contributes to, Workforce.com recommended decorating your office to make it look more festive – hang streamers, bring in a Christmas tree and deck the halls. Transform your office space in a place for holiday cheer and your employees will come back to work next year re-energized.

Games and contests?
Inter-employee competition is always a double-edged sword when commissions and other incentives means real money is changing hands, but end-of-the-year parties give businesses the ability to foster low-stakes competition between their employees.

Maybe you want to hold an ugly Christmas sweater competition or a tree decorating contest with custom promotional products on the line. See who can mix the best egg nog-based cocktail if you want to serve alcohol, or hold a gingerbread man baking showdown. It's all about the bragging rights and rewards when you're competing against colleagues, and unique promotional items like Myron's Promotional Bluetooth® Mini Boom Speaker are both affordable and sought after. Customize the speaker with your company logo and your employees will be thinking about this end-of-the-year party for months to come.

You should also take advantage of this special time of the year to thank your employees for all their hard work over the past 12 months, and there's no better way to show your appreciation than with a personalized gift for each and every one of them. Customize traditional gifts like Myron's Amalfi Jewelry & Watch Box with each employee's stellar sales figures or get creative with initialed Carl Mertens Hampton Bar Sets.

Your employees aren't expecting you to spend millions of dollars on end-of-the-year parties, but you still want to show them that you're not afraid to spend a few bucks to tell them they're worth it. Throw them a night of fun with their coworkers and give them a promotional gift as a memento of their year at your company – odds are they'll be ready to work in the new year.

]]>http://blog.myron.com/2014/11/21/how-to-throw-the-perfect-end-of-the-year-holiday-party/feed05 tips for planning end-of-year company eventshttp://blog.myron.com/2014/10/20/5-tips-for-planning-end-of-year-company-events
http://blog.myron.com/2014/10/20/5-tips-for-planning-end-of-year-company-events#commentsMon, 20 Oct 2014 16:31:42 +0000braftonhttp://blog.myron.com/2014/10/20/5-tips-for-planning-end-of-year-company-eventsThe beginning of November is the ideal time to start planning your company's holiday or end-of-the-year party. You may think you have ample time, but remember that the winter season is busy, not only for your employees, but for other companies as well. Don't wait until last minute to call a venue or caterer, or else you might end up out in the cold.

Use these five tips to get ahead on your party planning and hold an awesome bash.

1. Use last year's feedback
If a holiday celebration is a tradition with your company, take some time to get feedback from past gatherings. Ask employees for their favorite and least favorite part of last year's event. You'll get valuable information on location, time, planning, food and drinks. After all, it's a party for your staff, so they should have input on how to celebrate.

2. Spread the word
One of your first tasks should be to choose a date and time for the soiree, so spread the word that you've begun planning. Ask your employees to suggest potential times and list dates that are inconvenient for them. The SMC Conference and Function Centre suggested sending out a mass email with a list of potential dates and times for staff to review. At the end of the day, you want to pick a time that works for as many people as possible. You may not be able to accommodate everyone, but you can make sure that their input is taken into consideration.

3. Order awards early
If you're planning on honoring any of your staff members, like with an "Employee of the Year" award, a holiday party is a great place to do it. Giving employees public recognition for their accomplishments will boost morale and make them feel appreciated. If you want plaques or awards to hand out, order them early. If you wait until last minute, you may not be able to get them customized the way you want. Some options that your staff are sure to love include the Crystal Number One Recognition Award and the Jade Crystal Scroll Recognition Award.

4. Plan your entertainment
Whether you're hosting a big bash or an intimate gathering, there should be some sort of entertainment. For bigger events, consider inviting a local youth group or church choir to perform, or have a karaoke machine. If one of your employees is part of a band, you can invite the group to perform. For smaller events, you might organize a few games for yours staff to play, like a Yankee swap, or have a visit from Santa.

5. Send out behavioral guidelines
It's always a good idea to send out a gentle reminder about the standard of behavior you expect at company events. While the party is certainly a time for employees to relax and socialize with coworkers, they should be respectful and courteous. Send out an email detailing any actions that you consider inappropriate and how they will be handled. This is especially important if you are going to have alcohol at the event. You want your company to make a good impression on the community and any vendors you work with so take the time to remind your employees of the reputation they are expected to uphold.

6. Thank your employees
A company gathering is the perfect time to thank your staff for all that they do. Set aside a few minutes during the event to give a short speech expressing your gratitude. It doesn't need to be long or professional to let employees know they're appreciated. You might also want to give out thank-you cards, like the Extravaganza Personalized Holiday Cards, with a note for each staff member. A little thanks goes a long way when getting your employees in the holiday spirit.